The Avenlur Blog

Learning

Child Development · 4 min Is a Pretend Makeup Set Good for Toddlers? Kids love copying grown-ups getting ready. Here's what a wooden pretend makeup set teaches, what age it suits, and six play ideas that turn it into real pretend... Child Development · 3 min How Does Play Affect Brain Development? Pediatricians call play “brain building.” Here’s what the research says, the five kinds of play and what each one builds, and simple ways to make more room for... Buying Guides · 6 min What Are the Best Montessori Toys for a 3 Year Old? Three year olds want real work, real choices and toys that let them figure things out on their own. Here is what belongs on a Montessori shelf at... Activities · 5 min What Are Fine Motor Skills? Examples and Activities by Age Fine motor skills are the small hand movements behind feeding, dressing and writing. Here's what they look like at each age from 6 months to 5 years, and... Baby & Toddler · 6 min What Is a Busy Board, and What Does It Do for Toddlers? Toddlers head straight for latches, switches and zippers. A busy board puts them all on one panel. Here’s what it builds, which activities fit each age and what... Baby & Toddler · 6 min Is a Busy Board Montessori? Almost every busy board is sold as Montessori, but not all of them fit. Learn where busy boards come from, what makes one truly Montessori and how to... Baby & Toddler · 5 min When Can a Toddler Play With a Car Ramp? From drop and watch to racing and building: when toddlers are ready for a car ramp, what they learn at each stage, and three kinds of ramps to... Baby & Toddler · 5 min What Do Toddlers Learn From Stacking Toys? Knocking down comes first, and that's fine. How stacking skills grow, what each kind of stacking toy teaches, and simple ways to play along without taking over.